Suit-case.



PATENTED JUNE 80, 1908.

F. N. BOURNE.

SUIT CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY3, 1907.

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FREDERICK N. BOURNE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SUIT-CASE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application filed. May 3, 1907. Serial No. 371,746.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FREDERICK N. BOURNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suit-Cases, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an extendible case and has for its object to provide a suit case which may be regulated in size to accommodate itself to the quantity of clothing or other articles carried therein. It is found in the practical use of cases of this character very convenient to be able to extend the same and increase its capacity so that a large amount of clothing can be carried, then again, often times a small amount of clothing and other articles are desired to be carried, and if not sufficient to fill the case they will shake about and become displaced or wrinkled, but by the use of a case of my improved construction the capacity of the same may be regulated to accommodate itself to the contents so that its walls will always embrace and retain the articles, holding them firmly in position. In order to accomplish this result I have provided a plurality of toggle joints, all of which are designed to operate in unison to either draw together or spread apart both walls of the case at once.

WVith these objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construc tion, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved suit case contracted. Fig. 2- illustrates said case with both sides expanded. Fig. 3- is an enlarged sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a pair of toggle joints mounted on its operating shaft, said shaft being supported in a center or main frame portion, the outer ends of the toggle members being connected.to the two extendible sides. Fig. l-is a plan view of the mechanism with the case removed showing the relative position of the toggle joints and the shafts and gearing for operating the same.

Referring to the drawings at 1 is the center or main frame of the case, which is strongly constructed and on which all of the actuating mechanism is supported. At 2 and 3 are side frames adapted to slide into said main frame, one on either side thereof. The side frame may e secured at 5 with a lock of any suitable construction, the opposite side frame 3 having a permanent cover 6.

At 7 and 8 are two parallel shafts one on 2 is rovided' with a hinged cover 4 which either side of the main frame 1, both of said shafts being threaded at each end with right and left hand threads for the reception of the nuts 99 and 1010, the shafts beingrotatably held in bearings 1111 and 12 which are permanently fixed to the sides of the main frame. The end of shaft 8 is squared and extends forward at 13 out through the side of the casing at 15 for the reception of the handle 16 by which the mechanism is actuated. At 17 is a cross shaft held to revolve in bearings 24, which are fixed to one end of this main frame, said shaft being provided with pinions 18- 18 which mesh with pinions 19 19 on the ends of said shafts 7 and 8, whereby both of the side shafts are connected and caused to rotate in unison. Pivoted to the nuts 10 and 9 are the connections 20 and 21, the opposite end of connections 20 being pivoted at 22 at both ends of the side frame 2, while the connections 21 on the o posite side are pivoted at 2323 to both enc s of the opposite side frame 3.

In the operation of my im roved suit case, when it is desired to extenc or enlarge the same it is only necessary to apply the key 16 to the squared portion 13, and turn it in one direction whereby the two opposite lines of shafting rotate in unison on each side of the center main frame, thereby gradually drawing together the members of each pair of threaded nuts and simultaneously extend both sides of the case by moving outward both of the side frames 2 and 3. By controlling the movement of these sides from four distinct points prevents the same from cramping and insures perfect working of the device. To contract the case the handle is sim ly turned in the opposite direction.

1V y extendible suit case is of simple and practical construction and is very convenient to carry, and when covered with leather or cloth presents a handsome and finished ap earance.

Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. A case comprising a central main frame, two extendible sides on said frame, and means mounted on said frame whereby said sides may be moved toward and from each shaft on each side of said main frame, andmeans connecting said shafts and said sides whereby said shafts may be operated to move both of said sides in unison towards and from each other.

4. A case comprising a main frame, two sides having frames adapted to slide in said I sides adapted to telescope with said frame, a I shaft on each side of said frame, two pairsof nuts threaded on each of said shafts, a conjnection from each nut to each side frame, a cross shaft geared to said side shafts whereby the movement of one shaft will cause each pair-of said nuts to move in unison towards and from each other and slide said sides j either into or out of said mainframe.

main frame, a shaft on each side of said main frame, a plurality of nuts threaded on each of said shafts, a connection from each nut to each side frame, and means whereby said nuts may be moved in unison to move said side frame towards and from each other.

5. A case comprising a main frame, two sides adapted to telescope with said frame, a shaft on each side of said frame, two pairs of nuts threaded on each of said shafts, a connection between the nuts and the sides of the case and means whereby the movement of said shafts move each pair towards and from each other to extend or contract the case.

6. A casing comprising a main frame, two

"in presence of two witnesses.

telescoping sides to said frame, and means mounted on a rotatable shaft and connected to said side frame at fourdistinct points whereby the same may slide in and out of said main frame without the possibility of cramping.

7. A case comprising a main frame, two

. side frames telescoping with said main frame,

a shaft on each side of said main frame, a

plurality of nuts threaded on eachof said shafts, a connection from each nut to each side frame and a cross-shaft geared to each of said side shafts whereby the movement of one shaft moves all of said connections in unison to move saidside frames towards or r from each other.

8. A case comprising a main frame, two

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature FREDERICK N. BOURN E. Witnesses:

HOWARD E. BARLOW, E. I. OGDEN. 

